NMCA – Holley EFI Factory Super Car Finals

Jill McKenna | September 26, 2017

Watson wins the battle and Libersher wins the war in Holley EFI Factory Super Car

Chuck Watson

With an almost-perfect .006 reaction time, Chuck Watson drove his Cobra Jet Mustang to a win in the Holley EFI Factory Super Car Showdown during the NMCA World Street Finals at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis. In the all-Cobra Jet final, Watson drove to an 8.304 to hold off a quicker 8.292 by runner-up Gardner Stone.

The final event of the season in Indianapolis featured unseasonably warm 90-degree temperatures but it also featured a strong field of 13 modern-day factory-built race cars. Watson, who builds the Ford Cobra Jet package cars at his Detroit-based business, was extremely consistent with an 8.311 in his first-round win over John McKenzie and another 8.316 pass in his semifinal win against Kevin Skinner. Watson also had a quarterfinal bye run on race day.

Scott Libersher

Watson’s win was a gratifying way to end the NMCA season, which began almost seven months ago in Bradenton, Fla. He wasn’t, however, able to win the championship, which went to Scott Libersher and his Barton-powered COPO Camaro. Libersher went on a tear at mid-season, winning back-to-back-to-back events in Atlanta, Bowling Green, and Joliet. Even though Watson was in two final rounds, Libersher came into the Indy race holding a sizable 425-point lead in the standings and closed the deal with his semifinal finish. Bruno Massel (Bradenton) and David Barton (Norwalk), also claimed wins in 2017.

Stone, who was the runner-up in Atlanta with his Cobra Jet Mustang, worked his way to the final round with wins over Tedd Hughes, who was driving the Elite Patterson Omaha Track entry, low qualifier Paul Roderick, and Scott Libersher’s Camaro. Stone was also extremely consistent with runs of 8.320, 8.305, and an 8.282 in the semifinals that was the second-best run of eliminations.

At the end of season two, most agree that the Holley EFI Factory Super Car Shootout has become a welcomed addition to the NMCA Muscle Car series. More than 20 racers participated in the six-event series, which offers fans an up close and personal look at the latest in factory-built modern muscle cars.